Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction gives an insider's view of the strange and wonderful world of science fiction, by one of the most respected editors in the field, David G. Hartwell (1941-2016). David G. Hartwell edited science fiction and fantasy for over twenty years. In that time, he worked with acclaimed and popular writers such as Robert A. Heinlein, Poul Anderson, Frank Herbert, Roger Zelazny, Robert Silverberg, Gene Wolfe, Nancy Kress, L.E. Modesitt, Terry Bisson, Lisa Goldstein, and Philip Jose Farmer, and discovered hot new talents like Kathleen Ann Goonan and Patrick O'Leary. Now in Age of Wonder , Hartwell describes the field he loved, worked in, and shaped as editor, critic, and anthologist. Like those other American art forms, jazz, comics, and rock 'n' roll, science fiction is the product of a rich and fascinating subculture. Age of Wonder is a fascinating tour of the origins, history, and culture of the science fiction world, written with insight and genuine affection for this wonder-filled literature, and addressed to newcomers and longtime SF readers alike. Age of Wonder remains "the landmark work" Roger Zelazny called the first edition. The book contains sections that offer advice on teaching courses in science fiction, disquisitions on the controversial subgenre of hard SF, and practical explanations of the economics of publishing science fiction and fantasy. Age of Wonder still lives up to Hugo and Nebula Award winner Vonda McIntyre's description: "An entertaining and provocative book that will inspire discussion and argument for years to come." “A landmark work. daring, imaginative, witty--it is the best commentary on the field yet written.” ― Roger Zelazny, creator of the Amber series “David G. Hartwell has taken his cosmic mind on a marvelous exploration of science fiction as it was, as it is, and as it may well be. I was enthralled by Age of Wonders all the way through.” ― Frank Herbert, author of Dune “An insider's view of the science fiction scene today--full of insights, sidelights, convention nights--by one of the ablest minds in the business. Engaging and engrossing.” ― Gregory Benford, author of Timescape David G. Hartwell, called "an editor extraordinaire" by Publishers Weekly , is one of science fiction's most experienced and influential editors. As an editor with Berkley Books, Pocket Books, William Morrow, and Tor Books, he has worked with many of the field's best authors and edited many award-winning works. He is the author of Age of Wonders , a nonfiction study of the science fiction field. Among his many anthologies are the bestselling World Treasury of Science Fiction and the World Fantasy Award winner The Dark Descent . He is the holder of a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Columbia University, a winner of the Eaton Award, and has won three Hugo Awards for his editorial work. Age of Wonders Exploring the World of Science Fiction By David G. Hartwell Tom Doherty Associates Copyright © 1984 David G. Hartwell All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7653-9331-9 Contents Title Page, Copyright Notice, Dedication, Acknowledgments, I: The Source and Power of SF's Appeal, 1. "The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve", 2. "I Have a Cosmic Mind. Now What Do I Do?", 3. Worshipping at the Church of Wonder, II: Exploring the Worlds of Science Fiction, 4. Running Away from the Real World, 5. When It Comes True, It's No Fun Anymore, 6. Where Do You Get Those Crazy Ideas?, III: Writers, Fans, Critics, 7. Why "Science Fiction" Is the Wrong and Only Name for It, 8. Science Fiction Writers Can't Write for Sour Apples, 9. New Wave: The Great War of the 1960s, 10. Fandom, IV: The Future of SF, 11. "Let's Get SF Back in the Gutter Where it Belongs", 12. Crawling Home from the Future, Select Bibliography, Select Glossary of Fan Language, Appendices, I. Sixty Books Important to the Development of SF, Published Before the Name Was Invented, II. The Best 105 SF Books Since the Invention of the Field in the Twenties, III. Teaching SF, IV. Understanding Hard SF, V. Dollars and Dragons: The Truth About Fantasy, VI. Editing the Science Fiction Novel, Tor Books by David G. Hartwell, About the Author, Copyright, CHAPTER 1 "THE GOLDEN AGE OF SCIENCE FICTION IS TWELVE" — Peter Graham Immersed in science fiction. Bathing in it, drowning in it; for the adolescent who leans this way it can be better than sex. More accessible, more compelling. And the outsider can only wonder, What's the matter with him? What is he into, what's the attraction, why is it so intense? Grown men and women, sixty years old, twenty-five years old, sit around and talk about "the golden age of science fiction," remembering when every story in every magazine was a masterwork of daring, original thought. Some say the golden age was circa 1928; some say 1939; some favor 1953, or 1970, or 1984. The arguments rage till the small o